YOSUKE SHIN
I stared at Taro's eyes, fired up.
"Okay, I have a suggestion. You and Yuri go back to your home while I and Jiro go to Yoshi for a negotiation."
I didn't stop there. "I mean, I promised those people a village, and you are the leader. They're only going to hear you."
He took a deep breath before nodding. "Fine, you got me on that one."
Yuri glanced around, concern in her eyes. "Is Sai in the crowd?"
"No, he is on a trip on his own, but don't worry—he is really strong now." I said it with confidence, even though a part of me felt the weight of those words.
"Hey, take this," Taro said suddenly, handing me something.
I blinked. "What is that?"
It was a backpack, but strangely light—like a feather.
"It's a godglyph," Jiro said.
"What is that?" I asked, and he answered: "We don't know, but it was something like a star falling from the sky."
That made me freeze. "Wait, I saw one too… but I destroyed it." My eyes stayed locked on the backpack.
"You can use it for the negotiation," Taro said firmly.
"Wait, after you destroyed the stone, you had side effects?" Yuri asked.
I scratched my head. "Ah, no… I just fell unconscious from the impact of destroying it, and that's it."
"Okay, enough. Now we are splitting," Taro said seriously.
"Oh, right. Wait." I vanished into shadow step, reappearing in the crowd where my mother stood.
I carried her in my arms, shadow stepped back, and placed her gently before Taro.
"Well, you, Taro—this is mother," I said proudly.
"Miss, you are beautiful," Yuri said with admiration.
I stood tall, a proud son, though none of them knew what had happened before.
"Hello, sir, I'm Yuri Shin," my mother said, offering her hand. They shook firmly.
"Nice to meet you," Taro replied calmly. He smiled faintly. "Your name is exceptional—just like my daughter's."
"Nice to meet you, young lady. I see we have the same name," my mother replied with a warm smile.
After the introductions, we explained the plan—what was to happen, what roles we had to take.
"Okay, everyone ready?" Taro asked.
Everyone agreed. But before we split, I pulled my mother into a long hug.
"Be careful," she whispered. Unforgettable words, etched into me.
"Of course I will," I replied.
As I let her go, I caught her scent—soft, comforting—and watched her hair wave gently in the air.
"You are ready?" Jiro asked.
"More than ever," I answered, as both of us turned and started walking toward Yoshi village.
SAI SHINU
After I had left the village, only one thing remained in my path.
Now… I had the power to kill the person who was after me.
Once I passed beyond the forest, I saw it—looming, massive, like something torn out of a dream.
A castle. A colosseum. Rows of large houses.
The colosseum alone was as big as the motel we had lived in when we first arrived in this world.
Shivers rolled down my spine, cold sweat dripping down my face. My body trembled, but I forced a deep breath and pushed forward.
After an hour, I reached the entrance. A wide open gate, unguarded. Anyone could enter. Anyone could leave.
I stepped through.
This wasn't a village—it was a city.
Shops lined the streets, bursting with everything imaginable: food, weapons, clothes, tools. The air was alive with chatter, bartering, footsteps.
I kept walking, eyes sharp, until something bumped against me.
A boy. Young, maybe twelve. Dark eyes. Dark hair.
He looked up at me with desperation.
"Please, sir… can you free me?"